Page 60 of Claiming Her Cougar
Ben inclines his head toward Liam.“I played with this guy when we were younger.Now I help coach our twins’ pee-wee team.Here.Check ’em out.”Ben takes out his phone and shows me his lock screen.Pictured are two little blond-haired cherubs decked out in hockey gear.The little boy is smiling hugely, cheesing it up for the camera.The little girl is looking fiercely at the camera with her braids falling over her shoulders.
“That’s Asher and Emma.They’re in kindergarten.Emma plays defense, and Asher is the leading scorer.”Ben’s voice swells with pride.
I feel the sappy smile spread across my face, looking at them.“Aww…they’re adorable!Emma looks fierce!”
Heather laughs.“She is!She’s a bruiser.She’d be checking everyone into the boards if contact was allowed.She’s fearless.”
“I didn’t know there was a rink around here,” Daphne says.
“There isn’t,” Heather replies.“We drive to Voorhees for practice and games.It’s a shame.If they could get more ice time, it would help with their skills a lot.The kids that live closer have an advantage.”
“I have a synthetic rink at my house that almost no one uses.Maybe over Christmas break, you could bring them over and let them skate and shoot.It’s in a converted barn.My parents set it up when we were younger so Trevor could practice.”
“It’s a great surface,” Liam says.“Not as fast as ice, but great for drills or rec skating.”
“You’re skating again?Man, that’s great!”Ben says with a huge smile.“Maybe you and I can pass the puck sometime.”
“That would be great,” I say.“My younger brother is home from law school.I bet he’d love to skate some drills with you guys.And my nephews will be here for Christmas.They’re six and eight.They could skate with Asher and Emma.”
I exchange numbers with Heather so we can figure out a plan to get everyone together.
“Thanks so much, Mallory.I tried to convince them to play basketball like I did so they only needed a ball and some sneakers, but no, they want to play hockey like their daddy.”
I laugh.“My eldest brother played baseball, my sister swam and played lacrosse, and Trevor played hockey.It absolutely thrilled my parents that I ran cross-country, so they only needed to keep me in sneakers and send me outside.I love to run through the woods near my house.”
Miller looks at me.“I didn’t realize you were a runner.I did cross-country too.Do you do any races?”
“I haven’t raced since college.I just run for stress relief now.I usually set my watch for an hour and just run.Normally four or five miles a few times a week.”I take a sip of water.“I run outside when I can.Otherwise, I’m on the treadmill.”
Servers approach the tables to take our brunch orders.I get cinnamon swirl pancakes with a side of ham.Liam gets steak and eggs.They leave carafes of mimosas, orange juice, and water on the table.As the servers retreat, Will stands at the front of the room with Mike and Holly.I forget Will and Holly are siblings and that she’s most likely a partner in Morgan Development, even though she’s not involved in the day-to-day operations.
“Thank you, everyone, for joining us today.It’s been an exciting year with some things ending, but there are other, more exciting things coming in the new year.”Will looks out over the room fondly.“Liam, please come up here and join us.”
“Excuse me,” Liam murmurs, pushing back his chair and rising.He joins his father, aunt, and uncle.
Servers swarm the dining room with trays of champagne flutes.The four at the front each take a flute, as does everyone at the tables.
“One of the exciting things coming in the new year is the development of a new property.Morgan Development has gone under contract to purchase the Sand Dollar Pier in Atlantic City, and we will redevelop it as a combination retail and entertainment property.Liam will spearhead the project.We’re excited to continue to change and improve the landscape of Atlantic City.”
Will raises his flute, and we all follow suit.“To Morgan Development, and to all of you.May this coming year be the best yet.”
The sound of glasses clinking tinkles across the room.I take a sip of the champagne and try to collect my thoughts.Wow.A new project, and Liam is in charge.Does that mean he won’t be traveling as much?Is his role in the company changing?We haven’t spoken much this week because he’s been busy.I guess he was busy with this deal.
Daphne leans in.“Did you know about this?”
“I had no idea.Did you?”
“Nope.Neither did Logan.”
Liam rejoins us.
Ben holds out his flute in a toasting gesture, and they clink glasses.“Congratulations, man.Sounds like a cool project.”
“Thanks.It’s exciting.I’m glad I don’t have to keep it a secret anymore.”He glances at me quickly.“We need to finish our inspections, but if everything goes as we expect it to, it’ll be a game changer for the region.”
I wonder if it’s going to be a game-changer for us too.I want to invite Liam over and find out more, cash in on some of those benefits, but the rest of my family is arriving this weekend, and the house will be packed—I barely hold back my snort-laugh at my pun—until after New Year’s.I won’t get any alone time with Liam that way, and definitely won’t get to find out more about his new project.If the game’s changing, it’s becoming a marathon instead of a sprint.
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